Disk brake



NOW. 16, 1943.

R. G. AURIEN DISK BRAKE Filed Jan. 15, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nev. 1, 1943. R. G. AURIEN DISK BRAKE Filed Jan. 15, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww mm gum Wm. Q

INVENTOR. Z2459 0 (224115672,

Patented Nov. .16, 1943 DISK BRAKE Ray G. Aurien, Chicago, 11L, assignor to-Americam Steel Foundries, Ohio New Jersey ago, 111., a corporation of Application January 15, 1941, Seriai No. 374,416

27 Claims.

invention relates to a brake arrangement and more particularly to a novel disk type brake w actuating means supported between the wheels oi a railway wheel and axle assembly.

invention comprehends a disk brake arranement supported inboard the wheels of a railway wheel and axle assembly wherein a rotor is driven by each wheel and stators are movable axially into frictional engagement with opposite faces of the associated rotor.

One object of my invention includes designing for such a disk brake novel actuating means wherein an upper and lower set of diagonally arranged interconnected levers are connected to the stators associated with each rotor and to respective power means supported on opposite sides of the wheel and axle assembly, said sets being operable to move the stators in opposite directions to clamp or squeeze the associated rotor therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to support the stators and actuating means between the wheels by a brake carrier mounted on journal means outboard the wheels.

A diflerent object of my invention is to afford release means for returning the stators to their normal released positions, said means including pads of suitable resilient material supported on the brake carrier.

A further object of my invention is to design actuating means for such a disk brake wherein a live lever is connected to a piston of the brake cylinder, a dead lever is fulcrumed from said brake carrier, and said live and dead levers are connected to each other at corresponding ends and, intermediate their ends, to respective stators on opposite sides of a rotor.

A specific object of my invention is' to design such a disk brake having a rotor and stators adjacent to each wheel actuated by sets of diagonally arranged levers connected to the stators above and below the axle at substantially diametrically opposite points, one lever of each set being fulcrumed to a brake carrier and another lever of said set being connected to power means mounted on said brake carrier midway said wheels, and a member connecting corresponding ends of said levers.

Other objects and advantages of my novel brake arrangement will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a half top view of a railway car truck embodying my invention, part of the car truck being broken away adjacent to the wheel and axle assembly, and the other half not being shown because it is similarly arranged.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the section being taken sub- :stantially in the vertical planes indicated by lines 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end view, half in section, taken from the right of Figure 1, the section being taken substantially in a transverse diagonally arranged plane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is'a fragmentary sectional view of the opposite end of the car truck shown in Figure 1, the section being taken in a horizontal transverse plane bisecting the axle.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of supporting each rotor, the section being taken substantially in a vertical plane indicated by the line t-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the release means for the stators, the section being taken substantially in a vertical transverse plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in the longitudinaivertical plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modification of my invention, the section being taken substantialy in the vertical transverse plane bisecting the wheel and axle journal boxes i2, I2 in customary manner. Each journal box l2 slidingly engages as at It, It the spaced pedestal jaws i6, I t formed at each end of the side frame ll. On opposite sides of each journal box I2 are formed wing portions l8, it

, affording seats for the lower ends of coil springs -20, 20, and the upper ends of said springs may be seated against the top member of the side frame 4.

My novel braking means is disposed between the wheels 24, M, which may be press-fitted on opposite ends of axle it, and includes spaced rotors 26, 26, each supported adjacent a wheel 24 by a driving member or tube 28 (Figure 3). Each tube 28 encircles the axle I8 in concentric relationship therewith and may be press-fitted as at 38 on an annular bearing portion formed on the inboard face of the hub 32 of each wheel. The outboard end of tube 28 may be afforded an outwardly flaring annular flange 34 seated against the inboard face of the plate of the wheel 36 as at 38 and secured thereto in any convenient manner.

Each rotor 26 is supported adjacent to the inboard end of the tube 28 in a manner best shown in Figure 5. rotor 26 comprises arcuate segments 48, 48, each having a projecting lug 42 on its inner circumference received within a complementary opening 44 in the driving tube 28 for interlocking each segment 48. with said tube. A steel spring band 46 encircles each rotor 26 and is accommodated as at 48 within an annular channel formed on the outer circumference of said rotor. The adjacent ends of said band 46 may be welded as at 58 to securely retain the segments 48, 48 aroundthe tube 28 and to maintain their alignment.

In frictional engagement with opposite faces of each rotor 26 as at 52 and 54 are wear plates 56 and 58 secured in any convenient manner to the respective inboard annular stator 68 and outboard annular stator 62. Each stator 68 and 62 encircles the axle I8 and may be formed in two section in any convenient mannerto facilitate assembly. On opposite sides of said stators 68 and 62 are formed horizontally outwardly extending arms 64, 64 and 66, 66 respectively, and the ends of said arms slidingly engage as at 68, 68 (Figure 6) upper surfaces on the transverse channel members 18 and H disposed on opposite sides of the axle I8. The transverse members 18 and H project outboard the wheels 24, 24 and are secured at 12, 12 to the wing portions I 8, I8 on the journal boxes I2, I2. As best shown in Figure 7 a lug 14 of bolt-like form projects outwardly from each wing portion I8 through an aligned opening in an end of the adjacent transverse member 18 or H, and resilient bushings 16, 16 are sleeved over said lug to afford a resilient connection. A securing nut 18 is threaded on the end of each lug 14. It may be noted that the transverse members 18 and II form a brake carrier which is resiliently supported on the outboard journal boxes.

Power means for operating said stators are supported on each transverse member 18 and H at approximately the longitudinal center line of the car truck. Outwardly of the axle I8 a doubleacting brake cylinder 88 is secured to a bracket 82 on the transverse member 18 and is afiorded piston rods 84, 84 arranged to be actuated in opposite directions. Each piston rod 84 is pivotally connected as at 86 to the lower end of the diagonally arranged live lever 88 which is aiforded a connection intermediate its ends as at 98 to a jaw-like lug 92 integrally formed on the inboard stator 68 above the axle I8. The upper end of said lever 88 is pivotally connected as at 94 to the inboard end of the link or lever connector 96, said link 96 extending over said rotor and stators for pivotal connection as at 98 at its outboard end with the upper end of the diagonally arranged dead lever I88. The dead lever I88 is pivotally connected as at I82 intermediate its ends to a bracket or lug I84 formed adjacent to the top of the outboard stator 62 above the axle. The lower end of said dead lever I88 is fulcrumed as at I86 to It may be noted that each ed oppositely directed piston rods H4, H4, each having a pivotal connection as at I l 6 to the upper end of a diagonally arranged live lever II8. Intermediate its ends the live lever H8 is pivotally connected as at I28 (Figure 4) to the jaw-like bracket or lug I 22 formed on the inboard stator 68 beneath the axle I8 in substantially diametrically opposite relationship with the lug 92. The lower end of said live lever II8 may be pivotally connected as at I24 to the inboard end of the link or lever connector I26 which extends transv versely beneath the rotor and stators and which is aiforded at its outboard end a pivotal connection as at I28 to the lower end of the diagonal dead lever I38. Intermediate its ends the dead lever I38 is pivotally connected as at I32 to the jawlike bracket I34 formed on the outboard stator 62 beneath the axle and substantially diametrically opposite to lug I84. The upper end of the dead lever I38 is pivotally connected as at I36 to the fulcrum bracket I38 secured to the transverse member H.

The operation of the top and bottom sets of the diagonally arranged levers is readily apparent. Upon application of the power means the pistons of the respective brake cylinders 88 and II 8 simultaneously move outboardly and the live levers 88, 88 and I I8, II8 urge the inboard stators 68, 68 axially into engagement with the inboard faces of the rotors 26, 26. Continued application ro-. tates the outboard dead levers I88, I88 and I38, I38 in an inboard direction to axially move the outboard stators 62, 62 against the outboard faces of the rotors.

Release means for said stators (Figure 6) are afiorded by metal-faced annular resilient bushings I48, I48 over which the adjacent ends of the arms 64 and 66 respectively are sleeved as at I42, I42 and positioned as at I44, I44 by rings I46, I46 secured as by welding to the outer circumferential metal-facing on the resilient bushings I 48, I48. A bolt I48 extends through said bushings and an upstanding circular lug I58 secured to the transverse member 18 between the ends 64 and 66 of said stators. It is apparent that as the stators move toward each other, the resilient bushings I48, I48 are placed in shear and as the power means are released the resilient bushings return the stators to their normal released positions.

The journal box I2 is held against tipping or rotation upon application of the power means by inboard and outboard torque arms I 52, I52 secured to the top of each journal box I2 as at I54, W4 and secured at their opposite ends to the side frame 4 as at I56, I56.

In the modification shown in Figure 8, the braking means are substantially identical with those previously described and differ therefrom in the manner of connection of the rotor I68 to the normally rotating outer axle or housing I52 of a well-known roller bearing wheel and axle assembly. The outer axle I62 is afforded adjacent to each wheel an annular flange I64 with spaced recesses I66, I66 to accommodate complementary lugs I68, I68 formed on the inner circumferential portions of the rotor I68. It is contemplated that the rotor I68 may be formed in segmental portions which may be retained and aligned in proper relationship by a steel spring band I around its outer circumference in a manner similar to that previously described.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as vaiious and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the s irit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle, a frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, frame supporting members on said assembly, a brake carrier on opposite sides of said assembly and supported from said members, braking means including a rotor driven by said assembly inboard each wheel, stators supported by said carrier on opposite sides of each rotor, power means on said carrier on opposite sides of said assembly, and sets of interconnected levers on opposite sides of said assembly operatively connected to the stators associated with each rotor, the sets on one side of said assembly being operatively connected to one of said power means and the sets on the other side of said assembly being operatively connected to the other of said power means.

2. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, frame supporting members on said assembly, braking means inboard said wheels including rotatable brake elements driven by said assembly adjacent each wheel, nonrotatable brake elements supported by said members and arranged for engagement with opposite faces of the associated rotatable brake element, power means supported on opposite sides of said assembly and means operable to urge said elements into frictional engagement including upper sets of diagonally arranged levers operatively connected to said nonrotatable elements and one of said power means, and lower sets of diagonally arranged levers operatively connected to said nonrotatable elements and the other power means.

3.'In a vehicle, a supporting wheel and axle assembly including a rotating axle with a wheel thereon, a frame supporting member on said axle outboard said wheel, a frame supported thereon, braking means inboard said wheel including rotors driven by said assembly, stators disposed on opposite sides of each rotor for frictional engagement therewith and supported by said frame supporting member, and actuating means inboard said Wheel including sets of interconnected live and dead levers operatively connected to said stators at substantially diametrically opposite points. x

4. In a vehicle, a supporting wheel and axle assembly including a rotating axle with a wheel thereon, a frame supporting member on said axle outboard said wheel, a frame supported thereon, braking means inboard said Wheel including rotors driven by said assembly, stators disposed on opposite sides of each rotor for frictional engagement therewith and supported by said frame supporting member, and actuating means inboard said wheel including sets of interconnected live and dead levers operatively connected to said stators at substantially diametrically opposite points, and torque arms connected to said memher and to said frame.

5. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, journal means outboard said wheels, a brake carrier extending between said Journal means and supported from opposite sides thereof, rotors driven by said wheels, stators and power means resiliently supported by said carrier, and actuating means for said stators including interconnected live and dead levers connected to said power means and said carrier respectively and connected intermediate their ends to respective stators.

6. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, Journal means outboard said wheels, a brake carrier supported from opposite sides of said journal-means, braking means between said wheels including rotors driven by said wheels, stators and power means supported by said carrier, pairs of interconnected levers fulcrumed from said carrier and connected to said power means respectively for moving said stators into frictional engagement with said rotors, and torque members connecting said journal means and said frame.

7. In a vehicle, a frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axe with wheels thereon, frame supporting members on said assembly, a brake carrier on opposite sides of said assembly and resiliently supported from said members, braking means including a rotor driven by said assembly inboard each wheel, stators supported by said carrier on opposite sides of each rotor, power means on said carrier on opposite sides of said assembly, and sets of interconnected levers operatively connected to the stators associated with each rotor, each of said power means being operatively connected to certain of said sets of levers.

8. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, journal means outboard said wheels, a brake carrier supported at opposite sides of said Journal means, braking means between said wheels including rotors driven by said wheels, stators and power means supported by said carrier, and sets of levers for bringing said stators into engagement with respective rotors, each set including interconnected levers pivotally connected respectively to said carrier and to said power means and connected intermediate their ends to said stators.

9. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, journal means outboard said wheels, a brake carrier extending between said journal means and supported from opposite sides thereof, braking means between said wheels including rotors driven by said wheels, stators and power means supported by said carrier, and interconnected live and dead diagonal levers operatively associated with said stators and said power means, and release means on said carrier for said stators.

10. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, braking means comprising a rotor supported by each wheel, stators disposed on opposite sides of said rotor and supported outwardly of said wheels, power means on opposite sides of said axle, and sets of interconnected diagonally arranged levers operatively connected to said stators and to said power means.

11. In a vehicle, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, journal means therefor, a rotor driving member encircling said axle and mounted on eachwheel, a rotor supported on 'each member, transverse members mounted on said means, stators supported by said transverse members at ly arranged levers operatively connected to said stators and to said power means. 1

13. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, Journal means outboard said wheels, a brake carrier supported at opposite sides of said journal means, braking means between said wheels including rotors driven by said wheels, stators and power means supported by said carrier, and sets of diagonally arranged levers operatively associated with said stators and power means, and resilient pads on said carrier for releasing said stators.

14. In a railway car truck, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, braking means between said wheels including spaced rotors each driven by the adjacent wheel, stators supported on opposite sides of each rotor, double-acting power means supported between said wheels at each side of said assembly, and diagonally arranged levers operatively connected to said stators and to said power means.

15. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, journal means for said axle, braking means comprising a rotor supported by each wheel, stators disposed on opposite sides of each rotor and suported by said journal means outwardly of said wheels, power means between said wheels, and sets of interconnected levers disposed above and below said axle and connected to respective stators an power means.

16. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle and a wheel, a rotor driven by said assembly, stators adapted for engag'ement with said rotor, power means supported at opposite sides of said axle, and brake levers above and below the axle, said levers being connected to respective stators and operatively associated with respective power means.

17. In a railway car truck, a supporting axle with wheels thereon, braking means between said wheels including spaced rotors each supported from the adjacent wheel, stators supported on opposite sides of each rotor, and actuating means for the stators associated with each rotor including levers supported from opposite sides of said assembly and connected to'each stator above and below said axle.

18. In a railway car truck, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, braking means between said wheels including spaced rotors each supported from the adjacent wheel, stators supported on opposite sides of each rotor, power means supported on opposite sides of said assembly, and sets of levers operatively connected intermediate their ends to the stators associated with each rotor and each lever being fulcrumed at one end thereof and operatively connected at the opposite end thereof to the associated power means.

19. In a railway car truck, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels-thereon, braking means between the associatedwheels including spaced rotors each driven by the adjacent wheel, stators supported on opposite sides of each rotor, power means mounted on opposite sides of said assembly, and sets of diagonally arranged levers operatively connected to said stators and to said power means.

20. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, a rotor driven by eachwheel, stators supported at opposite sides of said rotor, pairs of levers at each end of said assembly and actuating means therefor, one of said pairs being positioned above and the other being positioned below said axle, and each of said pairs comprising adead lever and a live lever connected at one end thereof to each other and at intermediate points to respective stators, said live lever being connected at its opposite end to certain of said actuating means, and said dead lever being connected at its opposite end to a fixed fulcrum.

21. In a brake arrangement, an axle with wheels thereon, rotors driven by said wheels, stators supported at opposite sides of said rotors, and actuating means for said stators, said means comprising spaced cylinders, live levers positioned above and below said axle, and dead levers positioned above and below said axle, each live lever being connected at one end thereof to an associated dead lever, at the opposite end thereof to one of said cylinders, and at an intermediate point to an associated stator, each of said dead levers being connected at one 'end thereof to an associated live lever, at the opposite end thereof to a fixed fulcrum, and at an intermediate point to an associated stator.

22. In a brake arrangement, an axle with wheels thereon, a rotor driven by each wheel, stators mounted at opposite sides of said rotor, levers extending above and below said axle and operating said stators, and actuating mean for said levers, certain of said levers being connected -at one end thereof to said actuating means, at

the opposite end to an end of an associated lever, and at an intermediate point to an associated stator, said associated lever being connected at the opposite end thereof to a fixed fulcrum, and at an intermediate point to the adjacent stator.

23. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle with wheels thereon, rotors driven by said wheels, stators supported at opposite sides of said rotors, and operating means comprising levers extending above and below said axle for engagement with respective stators, said levers being supported from opposite sides of said assembly.

24. In a brake arrangement, an axle with wheels thereon, journal means for said axle, rotors driven by said Wheels, stators supported adjacent said rotors for frictional engagement therewith, actuating means for said stators, and release means for said stators comprising resilient pads associated therewith and adapted to be placed in shear upon actuation of said stators.

25. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle and a wheel, a frame supported from said assembly, a rotor driven by said assembly, stators at opposite sides of said rotor for braking engagement therewith, brake levers, a connection between said levers at corresponding ends thereof, said levers being consaid frame, the opposite end of one of said levers being operatively connected to said cylinder and the opposite end of the other of said levers being pivotally fulcrumed from said frame, said levers and said connection being disposed wholly in a plane at one side of said axle.

26. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle and a wheel, a frame supported from said assembly, a rotor driven by said assembly, stators at opposite sides of said rotor for braking engagement therewith, brake levers, a connection betweensaid levers at cor responding ends thereof, said levers being connected intermediate the ends thereof to respective stators, and a power cylinder mounted on 5 and said connection being disposed wholly in a said frame, the opposite end of one of said levers being operatively connected to said cylinder and the opposite end of the other of said levers being pivotally fulcrumed from said frame, said levers and said connection being disposed wholly in a 20 plane at one side of said axle and extending thereabove.

2'7. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle and a wheel, a frame supported from said assembly, a rotor driven by said assembly, stators at opposite sides of said rotorfor braking engagement therewith, brake levers, a connection between said levers at corresponding ends thereof, said levers being con- 10 nected intermediate the ends thereof to respective stators, and a power cylinder mounted on said frame, the opposite end of one of said levers being operatively connected to said cylinder and the 1 opposite end of the other of said levers being pivotally fulcrumed from said frame, said levers plane at one side of said axle and extendin therebelow.

RAY G, AURIEN. 

